No plan B. Yet.
So far, we can call this plan A +.
Boris Johnson and Health Minister Sajid Javid say the measures should be proportionate. They claim that we do not know enough about the Omicron variant. There may be nothing to worry about as many viruses – once they develop and mutate – become less dangerous to their hosts.
This is all correct. But what is also true is that we reacted late to the new threat from the Delta variant. With its much greater portability, it spread very quickly to become the dominant variant in the UK.
We still register more than 40,000 cases a week. It is only thanks to the vaccines that we do not see a large number of people in the hospital and more deaths.
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BMA chair: ‘Take early action now’ on the Omicron variant
Compare our measures – face masks and improved insulation – with the action of the Israeli government.
It has banned all travelers from abroad from entering the country for the next 14 days. So: the same variant, but two very different answers.
Have the Israelis overreacted or are others not doing enough? It is impossible to answer without the data that is still being collected.
The rest of the international community has also been quick to act after the discovery of the Omicron variant.
Some painful lessons have been learned. Do you remember the numerous cargo loads of passengers that came from India after the discovery of the Delta variant there?
This delay was largely the reason why the variety was sown in the UK.
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‘It’s going to be a merry Christmas’
So far, the only identified Omicron cases – including the three found in England – are all linked to travel from South Africa.
There are no cases of ongoing community transfer.
However, that may change very soon. Staff at a KFC restaurant and the congregation at a church in Essex have been advised to get PCR tests after possibly being exposed to an Omicron-positive case.
It’s about slowing down the spread.
Therefore, the government has recognized schools as yet another environment where infections spread very quickly. All students in years 7 and over in England must wear face masks in common areas from Monday.
Again, critics argue that this approach does not go far enough.
Once the Community transmission of the Omicron variant is established, the government will need to reconsider its strategy.
It has given itself three weeks – but by that time it may be too late.
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